Liquid dispensing apparatus



March 10, 1959 J. c. DAWSON ETAL 2,876,932

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 23, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI.

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3 7\ 7 T 67 v 87 65 Q 9 H I 3 March 10, 1959 J. c. DAWSON ETAL 2,875,932

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LIQUIDDISPENSING APPARATUS Joseph Carl Dawson, Ferguson, and LelandE.McQuilleu, Berkeley, Mo., assignors to Ferguson Fnmigants, Inc., St.Louis, Man, a corporation of Missouri Application January 23,1956,Serial No. 560,807

2 Claims. Cl. 222-70 This invention relates to liquid dispensingapparatus, and more particularly to apparatus for dispensing measureddosages of a liquid fumigant or the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofportable apparatus for effectively and accurately dispensing smallmeasured dosages of a liquid fumigant or the like, and morevparticularly a fumigant such as is disclosed in-U. S. Patent 2,606,857,for spot fumigation in cereal mills or the like; the provision ofapparatus of this class wherein the dosage may be readily varied atwill; and the provision of an elec- 'trically controlled apparatus ofthe class described which is economical to manufacture and reliable inoperation. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and inpart pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafterdescribed, the scope of the invention being indicated in the followingclaims.

in the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possibleembodiments of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a liquid dispensing apparatus of thisinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan of the apparatus with a top housing thereof removed;and,

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan of the apparatus with a bottom plate thereofremoved.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a liquid dispensing apparatus of thisinvention is shown to comprise a portable support generally designated 1in the form of a case having a carrying handle 3. The case includes abase portion 5 comprising a horizontal top plate 7, and vertical frontand back walls 9 and 11 and vertical end walls 13 and 15 extendingdownward from the plate 7. This forms a compartment 17 which is closedat the bottom by a bottom cover plate 19 secured to inturned flanges 21at the lower edges of the Walls 9 and 11. The bottom plate may beprovided with rubber feet 23.

The case further comprises a top housing 25 having a front wall 27, aback wall 29, a top wall 31, and end walls 33. The end walls 33 extendbelow the lower edges of the front and back walls 27 and 29 on theoutside of the end walls 13 and 15 of the base portion, and are securedthereto as indicated at 35.

A pressure regulator 37 is carried by the top plate 7 of the base 5.This has an inlet 39 and an outlet 41. It projects through an opening 43in the plate 7, and has an adjusting screw 45 at the top for adjustingit to provide different liquid pressures. A flexible supply hose line 47is connected to a fitting 49 at the back of the base portion. An elbow51 connects the fitting 49 and the inlet 39 of the pressure regulator37. At the 2,876,932 Fatented Mar. 10, 1959 outer end 'of the hose line47 there is provided a check valve 53 (which opens in the direction ofthe arrow shown in Fig. 2), a cock 55 and a coupling 57 for connectionto a source of liquid under pressure.

An elbow 59 is connected into the outlet 41 of the pressure regulator37. A hose line 61 leads from this elbow 59 to an elbow 63 which isconnected into a fitting 65. This fitting is mounted in an opening 67 inthe plate '7 toward the front and at the center of plate 7. A panel 69extends upward from the plate 7 at the front thereof. This occupies anopening 71 in the front wall 27 of the top housing 25. A pressure gage73 is carried by the panel 69, and is connected to the fitting 65 asindicated at 75.

Carried by the plate 7 toward the opposite ends thereof are solenoidvalves 77 and 79. A hose line 81 com nects the fitting 65 to the inlet83 of valve 77 (which is the left-hand valve, as illustrated) via anelbow 85. A hose line 87 connects the fitting 65 to the inlet 89 of theother solenoid valve 79 via an elbow 91. A flexible delivery hose line93 is connected to the outlet 95 of the solenoid valve 77 and extendsoutward through an opening 97 in the left-hand end wall 13 of the base5. A flexible delivery hose line 99 is connected to the outlet 101 ofthe solenoid valve 79 and extends outward through an opening 103 in theright-hand end wall 15 of the base 5.

At the outer end of each of the delivery hose lines 93 and 99 is amanually operable valve 105. Each of these valves includes a pivotedoperating lever 107. Ex-

' tending from the outlet of each valve is a delivery tube 109. Mountedon each valve 105 is a switch 111. This switch is open when valve 105 isclosed, and is adapted to be closed by the lever 107 when the latter isoperated to open the valve 105.

Mounted on the plate 7 toward opposite ends thereof are two electricaltime switches 113 and 115. Each of these is of a conventionalcommercially obtainable type, such as an R-C circuit type, includingcontacts adapted to close upon energization of the switch and adapted toopen upon elapse of the timing interval for which the switch is preset,and to be reconditioned automatically for initiation of another timingcycle upon deenergization. Each of the time switches includes anadjusting shaft 117 which is rotatable for presetting various timingintervals. These shafts extend through the panel 69 and have operatingknobs 119 fixed on their outer ends. Rotatable with each of the knobs119 is a time-interval indicating dial 121 which is read in conjunctionwith an index mark 123 on the panel 69.

The left-hand solenoid valve 77 is interconnected with the time switch113 for control thereby via a cable 125. The right-hand solenoid valve79 is interconnected with the time switch for control thereby via acable 127. Means is provided for controlling the time switch 113comprising a cable 129 extending along the hose line 93 having theswitch 111 at the outer end of hose line 93 connected therein. The cable129 has a plug 131 at its inner end plugged into a socket 133 in theleft end Wall 13 of the base 5. Connections between the time switch 113and the socket 133 are indicated at 135. Means is provided forcontrolling the time switch 115 comprising a cable 137 extending alongthe hose line 99 and having the switch 111 at the outer end of hose line99 connected therein. The cable 137 has a plug 139 at its inner endplugged into a socket 141 in the right end wall 15 of the base 5.Connections between the time switch 115 and the socket 141 are indicatedat 143. A power supply cord is indicated at 145. Connections from thecord 145 to the switches 113 and 115 are indicated at 147 and 149,respectively.

supply hose line thereto. The cock 55 is opened. For

using the hose line 93 for spot fumigation, the time switch 113 ispreset by means of the knob 119 associated therewith for a timinginterval corresponding to the amount of fumigant which it is desired todeliver. In a typical embodiment of the invention, the time switchprovides for various intervals from one to ten seconds.

The tube 109 at the outer end of hose line 93 is inserted in an openingin the wall of the equipment to be fumigated, and the lever 107 of thevalve 105 at the end of hose line 103 is pressed to open this valve 105and to.

close the associated switch 111. This energizes the time switch 113 tocause it to close and thereby energize the solenoid valve 77. to causeit to open, and to initiate a timing .cycle. Fumigant is thereupondelivered through the hose line 93 and the opened valve 105 at the endof line 93, at a pressure determined by the pressure regulator 37.Delivery continuous for the timing interval for which the time switchhas been preset. Then the time switch opens to deenergize the solenoidvalve 77, which thereupon closes to cut oif flow. The time switch isautomatically reconditioned for initiating another timing cycle uponrelease of the lever 107 to open switch 111. The operations involved inusing the other delivery hose line 99 are the same, except, of course,that delivery via line 99 is under control of the time switch 115 andsolenoid valve 79. I

It will be understood that the apparatus of this invention may be usedin conjunction with a portable tank of fumigant instead of as abovedescribed. For example, the apparatus may be mounted on a wheeledsupport carrying a pressurized tank of fumigant. The pressure for thefumigant may be obtained from a source of compressed air, regulator 37being omitted.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limitingsense.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing measured dosages of a liquid fumigantcomprising a case adapted to be carried by hand having a base and front,back, end and top walls, a carrying handle on the top wall for carryingthe case from place to place, a liquid pressure regulator in the casehaving an inlet and an outlet, a flexible supply hose 4 I line connectedat one end to the regulator inlet extending out from the case and havinga coupling at its outer end for connection to a source of liquidfumigant under pressure, a solenoid valve in the case having an inletand an outlet, said solenoid valve being adapted to open on beingelectrically energized and to close upon being deenergized, a connectionin the case between the regulator outlet and the solenoid valve inlet, apressure gauge on the front wall of the case in communication with theconnection between the regulator outlet and solenoid valve inlet, aflexible delivery hose line leading out of the case from the solenoidvalve outlet, a manually operable valve at the outer end of the deliveryhose line having a pivoted operating lever, an electrical time switch inthe case adapted to close upon energization thereof and adapted to openupon elapse of the timing interval for which it is preset, said timeswitch having means extending out of the front wall ofthe. case forpresettingvarious timing intervals, said solenoid valve beinginterconnected with said time switch for control thereby, and means forcontrolling said time switch comprising a cable extending from the casealong the delivery hose line and having a switch connected thereincarried by the manually operable valve and operable by said lever.

2. Apparatus for dispensing measured dosages of a liquid fumigantcomprising a case adapted to be manually transported from place to placeand having a base and front, back, end and top walls, a handleassociated with the case for transporting the case from place to place,a solenoid valve in the case having an inlet and an outlet, saidsolenoid valve being adapted to open on being electrically energized andto close upon being deenergized, means extending from the solenoid valveinlet out of the case for connection to a source of liquid fumigantunder pressure, means for regulating the pressure of liquid fumigantsupplied to said solenoid valve inlet, a flexible delivery hose lineleading out of the case from the solenoid valve outlet, a manuallyoperable valve at the outer end of the delivery hose line having apivoted operating lever, an electrical time switch in the case adaptedto close upon energization thereof and adapted to open upon elapse ofthe timing interval for which it is preset, said time switch havingmeans extending out of one wall of the case for presetting varioustiming intervals, said solenaid valve being interconnected with saidtime switch for control thereby, and means for controlling said timeswitch comprising a cable extending from the case along 'the deliveryhose line and having a switch connected therein carried by the manuallyoperable valve and operable by said lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,808,804 Baldner et al. June 9, 1931 1,953,393 Carter Apr. 3, 19342,709,546 Shore May 31, 1955

